apologies, clarification

Submitted by David (United States), Oct 23, 2022 at 14:37

You certainly are not at my disposal to do anything, Dr. Pipes. Forgive me for the impropriety and the rudeness. It has appeared to me that you've been reticent to comment negatively on the Biden administration, and I was merely trying to prod you to say something, or to respond to my question for example regarding the implications of Israel's agreement to meet Hezbollah's demands regarding the natural gas fields. Of course you are not on my employ and you have no obligation whatsoever to respond to my questions or requests. There's simply a defeaning silence in the broader foreign policy community here in the United States, on such matters, and it has been my impression that commentary from you would be illuminating and might prod people to recognize the severity of the present danger, if it is indeed a moment of danger. The complacency of the broader foreign policy community and particularly large swathes of the so-called "neo-conservative" faction on such matters, is worrying. People have a tendency, it would seem, to listen to the opinions of respected voices. Moreover, individuals such as you, have knowledge that can be brought to bear on such subjects, considerably beyond that of an observer on the sidelines.

Forgive me for not directing such questions on Twitter, I do not use that medium. I have not noticed any commentary from you on the issue of Hezbollah there in recent days and weeks, nor about the seeming willingness, reiterated just yesterday by Blinken, of the Biden administration to conclude a nuclear deal with Iran notwithstanding the brutality of the Iranian crackdown on internal dissent, as well as the direct Iranian efforts to aid Russia's war in Ukraine. Although bizarrely, but I would say unsurprisingly, the administration is willing to risk a "reevaluation" of the entire American alliance with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for supposed "collusion" with Moscow that amounts merely to an unwillingness to increase oil supply, not the material and physical support (even including the dispatch of armed personnel!) that is provided by Tehran, which provokes nary a negative word from them. John Kirby for example, minimized the significance of the fact that "just a few" IRCG people were sent to Crimea to aid Russia recently. You are free to comment or not comment, but I have not seen much in the way of condemnation of such actions in your feed. What I've noticed is a general expression of happiness at the prospect of a formal alliance between Israel and Ukraine. But I have not noticed considerable condemnation of the actions I've referenced. Forgive me for being rude. It is certainly within your remit to decide to write something on such issues, or not.

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